Tank valve apparatus



Jan- 7, 1969 H. D. MUEHL TANK VALVE APPARATUS S M n ma, m M@ Ma A M 4Y w8 4m M n 2 w El United States Patent O 3,420,495 TANK VALVE APPARATUSHerman D. Muehl, 10851 Drury Lane, Lynwood, Calif. 90262 Filed Apr. 3,1967, Ser. No. 627,845 US. Cl. 251-144 Int. Cl. F161; l/00 6 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of theinvention The invention relates to the field of discharge valveapparatus for a tank, and particularly for use with a tanker truck orthe like of the type commonly used for transporting bulk gasoline orother liquid, the valve being extern-ally operable to empty the contentsof the tanker truck when it has reached its destination.

Description of the prior art Existing valve-s for tanker trucks and thelike are characterized by operating components which are locateddirectly in the path of flow of the liquid during discharge. Thispartial blocking or disruption of the liquid ow greatly slows whatshould be a rapid discharge operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the tankvalve apparatus is characterized by a valve mounting and operatingmechanism which is located interiorly of the tank to be emptied, and inspaced relation to the discharge opening normally closed by the valve ofthe apparatus. The valve apparatus includes a pair of support elementsof relatively small cross section which extend into the tank for somedistance and support toggle arms which are pivotally connected to thestem of the valve. Operation of the toggle arms raises the valve awayfrom the discharge opening and out of the path of the liquid beingemptied, only the relatively small area of the support elements being inthe path of the discharging liquid. Thus, the tank can be rapidlyemptied *by reason of the small portion of the valve apparatus whichblocks its path.

The valve apparatus is quickly attachable to existing tanker trucks, isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture, is reliable in operation, and canbe quickly removed for ,adjustment and maintenance.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromconsideration of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAW-ING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the tankvalve apparatus of the present invention; as the same would be viewedfrom the interior of a truck tank in which it is installed;

FIG. 2 is a View taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, and showing thearrangement of the toggle arms in the closed position of the valve;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 2 but limited primarily to a showing ofthe arrangement of the toggle arms in the open position of the valve;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FlG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a tank valveapparatus 10 which is adapted to effect rapid discharge of the liquidcontents of a tank such as the tank of a tanker truck or the like. Theapparatus 10 is illustrated as it would appear when mounted to the edgemargins of an opening 12 in the bottom 14 of such a tank.

The apparatus 10 includes a mounting assembly 16 having an annular outerring 18 which is welded or otherwise secured to the edge margins of thetank opening 12. The assembly 16 also includes an annular inner ring 20which ts within the central opening in the outer ring 18 and ischaracterized by a peripheral flange 22 which abuts against theunderside of an adjacent portion of the outer ring 18. An annularsealing ring or gasket 24 is interposed between the outer and innerrings 1S and 20 to provide a liquid-tight seal.

The central opening in the inner ring 20 defines a discharge opening 25which terminates at its inner extremity in a tapered valve seat 26.

The inner ring 20 is securely fastened to the outer ring 18 by aplurality of fastener assemblies disposed in spaced relation about theperiphery of the rings, each such assembly including a threaded stud 28which is threaded into a suitable opening in the underside of the outerring 18, an anchor lug 3d axially slidably carried by the stud 28 andengaging the undersides of the inner and outer rings, and a nut 32threaded upon the stud 28 and engaging the underside of the lug 30.Tightening of the nuts 32 detachably clamps the inner ring 20 to theouter ring 18 in sealing relation. As will be seen, removal of the nuts32 permits the inner ring 20 and the components mounted thereon to bequickly dissociated from the tank bottom 14.

A similar plurality of fastening assemblies secures an annular adaptorcollar 34 to the underside of the inner ring 20, the central opening inthe collar 34 constituting a continuation of the discharge opening 25 ofthe inner ring 20. The collar 34 is adapted to be clamped to a dischargeconduit (not shown) for carrying away the liquid discharged from thetank. ln this regard, the fastening assemblies securing the collar 34 tothe inner ring 26 can be quickly operated to permit different sizes ofcollar 34 to be installed for coupling to different sizes of dischargeconduit.

For this purpose, each of the fastening assemblies includes a stud 36threaded into the underside of the inner ring 20 and threadably mountinga nut 38 which presses against a lug 40 having a radially inwardlyextending portion which engages the underside of a peripheral ange 42 ofthe collar 34. A sealing ring or gasket 44 is interposed between thecollar 34 and the inner ring 20 to provide a liquid-tight seal. p

A circular valve 46 is disposed over the discharge opening 25 andincludes an annular sealing ring 48 which rests upon the valve seat 26to provide a liquid-tight seating arrangement. The valve 46 includes acentral opening which slidably receives an inwardly and verticallyoriented valve stem 50, the valve 46 being retained on the valve stem 50by a nut 52 threadably mounted to the lower threaded extremity of thevalve stem 50.

The upper extremity of the valve stern 50 is also threaded and mounts anadjusting nut 54 and a lock nut 56, the position of the adjusting nut 54determining the vertical position of a coupling assembly 58 which isvertically slidably mounted upon the upper extremity of the valve stem50. As best viewed in FIG. 5, the coupling assembly 58 includes a pairof horizontally oriented,

vertically spaced-apart guide elements 60 which have vertically alignedopenings which slidably receive the valve stern 50. The guide elements60 are secured together at their opposite sides by a pair of side plates62 which are welded to the elements 60, and which extend along oppositesides ofthe valve stem 50.

The pair of side plates 62 pivotally mount the inner or upperextremities of a pair of elongated, parallel, and spaced-apart linksconstituting a toggle arm 64, and similarly mount a pair of identicallinks constituting a toggle arm 66. As will be seen, upward movement ofthe inner extremities of the toggle arms 64 and 66 is etective to raisethe coupling assembly 58 and thereby raise the valve 46 olf its seat 26,whereas downward movement of the inner or upper extremities of thetoggle arms 64 and 66 is effective to move the coupling assembly 58downwardly, thereby allowing the valve 46 to move downwardly onto itsseat 26.

As best viewed in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the lower or outer extremities ofthe links constituting the toggle arms 64 and 66 are pivotally mounted,respectively, to a pair of trunnions 68 and 70. Each trunnion 68 and 70,in turn, forms a part of the associated one of a pair of actuators 72and 74.

More particularly, the actuator 74 is characterized by a pair oflaterally and diametrically oppositely extending arms 76, one of whichmounts a vertically disposed pivot pin 78 which secures the trunnion 70in position for pivotal movement about the vertical axis of the pin '78.As best seen in FIG. 6, the trunnion 70 includes a pair of lateralextensions which mount the parallel links of the toggle arm 66 forpivotal movement thereof in parallel vertical planes.

The portion of the actuator 74 located centrally of the pair of arms 76includes a central opening which receives the upper extremity of atorque rod 82 which constitutes a part of an elongated, vertically andinwardly extending support element 84. The rod 82 is slidably ttedwithin the hollow interior of a support sleeve 86 which also constitutesa part of the element 84. The actuator 74 is retained in position uponthe torque rod 82 by a nut 88 which is threaded onto the threaded upperend of the rod 82. The nut 88 bears against a washer 90 which rests uponthe actuator 74, and a washer 92 is interposed between the underside ofthe actuator 74 and the upper end of the support sleeve 86 to facilitatepivotal movement of the actuator 74 relative to the sleeve 86. Thewasher 92 also rests against an upper adjustment nut 94 which isthreaded onto the threaded upper extremity of the support sleeve 86.

It is particularly noted that the upper extremity of the torque rod 82is provided on opposite sides with a pair of flats 96 which engagecorresponding flats (not shown) forming a part of the central opening inthe actuator 74. Thus, rotation of the torque rod 82 engages the ats 96with the ats of the opening in the actuator 74, and thereby rotates theactuator 74.

The lower extremity of the support sleeve 86 is threadably mountedwithin a suitable opening provided in the inner ring 20, the sleeve 86extending only about halfway into this opening. However, the torque rod82 projects below the lower terminus of the sleeve 86 and below thelower surface of the inner ring 20. A short collar 98 is disposed overthe projecting lower end of the torque rod 82 and a pair of sealingwashers 100 are interposed between the adjacent ends of the collar 98and the sleeve 86 to provide a liquid-tight seal.

The lower end of the torque rod 82 is provided with a pair of flats 102which engage complemental flats (not shown) characterizing the centralopening of an end portion 104 of an operating arm 106. The end portion104 is held in position on the threaded lower end of the torque rod 82by a nut 108, the nut 108 being tightened sufficiently to maintain theliquid-tight relation between the support Sleeve 86 and the collar 98.

As best viewed in FIG. l, the operating arm 106 is pivotally coupled toone end of an elongated linkage 110 which. is reciprocable by anysuitable means to effect rotation of the torque rod 82. That is, thelinkage 110 can be mechanically operated by a suitable hand lever (notshown), or may be coupled to an air cylinder or the like for operation.In either event, as will be seen, actuation of the linkage 110 iseifective to rotate the torque rod 82 which initiates seating andunseating of the valve 46.

The trunnion 68 opposite the trunnion 70 is mounted by a vertical pin112 to a laterally extending arm 114 of the actuator 72 for pivotalmovement about the vertical axis of the pin 112. As best seen in FIG. 3,the actuator 72 includes a central opening which receives a tubularsleeve or bearing 116 which rotatably receives the threaded shank of abolt 118. The lower end of bolt 118 is threaded into the upper end of anelongated, inwardly and vertically oriented support rod 120 which formsa part of a support element 122 located on the side of the valve stem 50opposite the suport element 84. The support rod 120 is slidably ittedthrough the hollow interior of an elongated support sleeve 124 whichalso constitutes part of the support element 122. The upper end of thesupport sleeve 124 is threaded to receive an upper adjustment nut 126,and the lower extremity of the sup-port sleeve 124 is threadablydisposed within an opening in the inner ring 20, extending approximatelyhalfway into the opening.

The support rod 120 extends below the lower end of the support sleeve124 and is surrounded by an annular gasket 128. The support rod 120 issecured to the sleeve 124 by a bolt 130 which is threaded into anopening in the lower end of the rod 120, the head of the bolt bearingagainst a pair of sealing washers 132 and 134 to afford a liquid-tightseal between the sleeve 124 and the inner ring 20.

An elongated tie member 136 is pivotally connected at its oppositeextremities to the arm 114 of the actuator 72 and to the arm 76 of theactuator 74 which is opposite the arm 76 to which the trunnion 70 ispivotally secured. With this arrangement, pivotal movement of theactuator 74 is transmitted to the actuator 72 so that both actuatorsmove in common. l

A circular skirted spring retainer 138 is disposed across the valve stem50 and support elements 84 and 122, including a central opening 140which loosely receives the valve stem 50 to allow free movement of thevalve stem 50 relative to the spring retainer 138. In addition, theretainer 138 includes a pair of openings on opposite sides of theopening 140 to receive the support sleeves 86 and 124, the upper surfaceof the retainer 138 bearing against the undersides of the upperadjustment nuts 94 and 126. A pair of lower adjustment nuts 142 and 144are threaded onto the support sleeves 86 and 124, respectively, and bearagainst the underside of the transverse portion of the spring retainer138 to clamp it in position. The adjustment nuts may be threadedupwardly or downwardly upon their associated support sleeves in order toadjust the vertical position of the spring retainer 138.

The adjustment and vertical position of the spring retainer 138 adjuststhe bias of a compression spring 146 which is disposed about the valvestern 50 and which has its opposite ends in abutment with the springretainer 138 and the valve 46. With this arrangement, the spring 146tends to bias the valve 46 to its closed position, that is, seated uponthe valve seat 26. The spring retainer 138 also functions to rigiditythe support elements 84 and 122 during operation of the tank valveapparatus 10.

In operation, and assuming the tank with which the apparatus 10 isassociated is to be discharged, a suitable discharge conduit (not shown)is coupled to the collar 34. Next, the linkage 110 is moved in thedirection of the arrow shown in FIG. l to thereby pivot the torque rod82. As viewed in FIG. l, this pivots the actuator 74 in acounterclockwise direction to thereby move the lower or outwardextremity of the toggle arm 66 inwardly. In addition, the tie member 136is acted upon by the actuator 74 to also pivot the actuator 72 in acounterclockwise direction, causing the lower or outward extremity ofthe toggle arm 64 to move inwardly.

The inward movement of the lower extremities of the toggle arms 64 and66 causes the upward extremities of the toggle arms to move the couplingassembly 58 upwardly, which moves the valve 46 upwardly to its dischargeposition against the bias of the spring 146.

The liquid in the tank then has a relatively unimpaired flow path fromthe tank and through the discharge opening 25, the only impediment tothe liquid flow being the relatively small cross section of the supportsleeves of the pair of support elements 84 and 122.

Closure of the valve 46 is quickly effected by movement of the linkage110 in the direction opposite the arrow shown in FIG. 1. This movementhas the effect of causing the actuators 72 and 74 to move in acounterclockwise direction. The lower extremities of the toggle arms 64and 66 move outwardly, and the upper extremities of the toggle arms movedownwardly, thus permitting the bias of the spring 146 to urge the valve46 to its closed position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a tank valve apparatus hasbeen provided which is readily adapted for association with existingtanker trucks. The apparatus 10 is substantially wholly contained withinthe tank and is easily operable from the exterior of the tank eithermanually or by air or hydraulic cylinders or the like. Most importantly,the arrangement of toggle arms located out of the path of liquid fiowpermits the valve to be easily operated without significant interferencewith rapid liquid discharge.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tank valve apparatus comprising: mounting means adapted forsecurement adjacent the edge margins of an opening in a tank bottom,said mounting means defining a discharge opening having a valve seat; avalve on said seat for closing said discharge opening 4and including anelongated valve stem extending vertically and inwardly 0f the tank; apair of elongated, vertically oriented support elements located onopposite sides of said Valve stern and secured lat their lowerextremities to said mounting means; a pair of actuators pivotallymounted to the upper extremities of said support elements, respectively,and including actuator arms movable toward and away from said valvestern upon pivotal movement of said actuators; a tie member pivotallycoupling together said actuator arms for common movement; a pair ofelongated toggle arms pivotally mounted at their outer extremities tosaid pair of actuator arms, respectively; coupling means pivotallymounting the inner extremities of said toggle arms to the upperextremity of said valve stem; and operating means coupled to one of saidactuators and operable to pivot said actuator in one direction to movethe outer extremities of said toggle arms inwardly to -raise said valvestem and said valve to a discharge po-sition; and operable to pivot saidactuator in the opposite direction to move the outer extremities of saidtoggle arms outwardly to lower said valve stern and said valve to aclosed position.

2. A tank valve apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of saidsupport elements is hollow, and said operating means includes anelongated torque rod extending through said one of said supportelements, connected -at its upper extremity to the adjacent one of saidactuators, and projecting outwardly of said mounting means at its lowerextremity whereby said torque rod is adapted to be rotated in oppositedirections for opening and closing said valve.

3. A tank valve apparatus according to claim 1 and including springretainer means mounted to said support elements; and a compressionspring interposed between said spring retainer means and said valve andtending to bias said valve to a closed position.

4. A tank valve apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said springretainer means includes adjustment elements for mounting said springretainer means to said support elements at various points along thelengths of said support elements to thereby vary the bias of said springagainst said valve.

5. A tank valve apparatus according to cl-aim 1 wherein said couplingmeans is adjustably mounted to the upper extremity of said valve stemfor adjustment of the vertical position thereof on said valve Stem tothereby adjust the position of said valve in its closed position andinsure firm seating of said valve on said valve seat.

6. A tank valve apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mountingmeans includes an outer ring for attachment to the tank bottom; an innerring defining said discharge opening and mounting said support elements;and a plurality of mounting fasteners securing said inner ring to saidouter ring, said fasteners being demountable for dissociation of saidinner ring and its associated components from the tank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,749,119 3/1930 Wilson 251-144 X2,344,594 3/1944 Bryant 251-28() X 2,370,604 2/1945 Craene et al 251-280X M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM R. CLINE, AssistantExaminer'.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

